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2.17.2011

I'm outside, pruning the fruit trees, and notice several sets of beady eyes looking at me from a short distance away. Undaunted by the stares, I continue trimming, and then start pulling up the weeds from the base of the young fruit trees. Before I can blink twice, I'm surrounded by voracious, determined chickens, tearing up the ground where the weeds once were. Any sleeping worm, pillbug or grub is instantly gobbled up.

Spouse and I once idly discussed: if we were to drop dead on the pasture, who'd be the first to start chewing on our carcasses? Dogs, geese, ducks, or chickens? We both agreed, hands-down: the chickens.

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What this is all about:

Spouse and I are two tech geeks creating a small family farm in the beautiful Texas Hill Country. Our (okay, MY) goal is to grow an organic fruit orchard, and sell to farm markets as my full-time retirement job. Our efforts currently comprise of eight geese, ten ducks, three livestock guardian dogs, and twenty-three laying hens (plus one rooster) of various breeds. Oh, and about 30-odd fruit trees. Hey, I DO have an orchard!

Although I believe the world economic engine and oil production is winding down, it is by getting to know our neighbors and working together on a local level that we'll weather the rough times ahead. Re-localization and locavorism for the win![Spouse thinks I'm nuts, but that's okay. He had his chance to run. Now he's stuck with me.]